Projo Politics Blog

Don’t put down those cell phones just yet.

The state Budget Office says it plans to reexamine its estimate that banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving could generate $1.2 million in $50 fines this fiscal year and close to $5 million in the year that begins July 1.

Democrats jumped all over the estimates last week, saying they didn’t “make sense.” For the state to garner that much in fines, the police would have to issue 100,000 $50 tickets each year, or more than 270 every day, House Majority Leader Gordon D. Fox pointed out.

The Budget Office had said its calculations were based on the average number of drivers on Route 95 and the percentage of them who use cell phones on the road. But on Friday, budget officials reversed course, telling the House Finance Committee that they’ll take a second look at the numbers.

House and Senate fiscal staff will reportedly be involved in that analysis. No word yet on when the new numbers will be ready.

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